Álvaro Padrón, an advisor to Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and a key contributor to his United Nations speech, clarified on Monday that the mention of "tyrannies" was indeed directed at the Cuban government, even though the president refrained from explicitly naming it.
During an interview on Canal 12's program "Desayunos Informales," Padrón was asked directly whether that part of the speech was alluding to Cuba.
"The reference clearly indicates a separation between the Cuban people and the Cuban regime," Padrón stated.
Padrón further noted that the statement was aimed specifically at the Cuban government, although he acknowledged that this interpretation stemmed from his involvement in drafting the speech.
This clarification comes after days of debate following Orsi's remarks at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24th.
Orsi stated, "We cannot remain indifferent to the pain caused by an endless state of war; the fear and suffering from organized crime; the constant threat of terrorism; the repression from tyranny or the hardship inflicted by the harsh economic blockade like the one the Cuban people endure."
The phrasing led to varied interpretations since Orsi mentioned "tyranny" and then referred to the U.S. embargo on Cuba, without explicitly labeling the Havana government as a tyranny.
Upon his return to Uruguay, President Orsi defended his choice of words, asserting, "I did speak about the pain caused by tyrannies," and emphasized that sometimes one should not be overly explicit when discussing other governments.
Orsi reiterated that he did not specifically address the "Cuban regime" and summed up his stance with the expression: "A word to the wise is sufficient."
The speech drew criticism from the opposition National Party. Its president, Álvaro Delgado, pointed out that before the trip, he had urged Orsi to speak clearly about democracy and free elections in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. However, he criticized that Nicaragua and Venezuela were omitted from the address and that, in Cuba's case, the president chose to mention the U.S. embargo.
Padrón explained that the decision was made not to list specific governments because the list could be much longer, citing China as an example.
He also defended the explicit reference to the Cuban embargo due to the widespread international support for its removal and noted that Cuba's situation had gained more prominence compared to Orsi's speech a year earlier.
The Cuban issue also carries significant weight in Uruguay's internal politics. Before the speech, the president of the ruling Broad Front, Fernando Pereira, had urged Orsi to denounce the U.S. embargo on the island at the United Nations.
The opposition, on the other hand, has called for a clear condemnation of the political and human rights situation in Cuba. Among those voices is Cuban-born Deputy Leydis Aguilera from the National Party.
Padrón summarized the cautious approach Uruguay takes in handling foreign policy matters: "I wouldn't use the word fear; I would use the word caution."
Clarification on Uruguayan Stance Towards Cuba
What was the controversy about President Orsi's speech?
The controversy arose from President Orsi's UN speech where he mentioned "tyrannies" and the U.S. embargo on Cuba without explicitly naming the Cuban government as a tyranny, leading to varied interpretations.
How did Álvaro Padrón clarify the speech's intent?
Álvaro Padrón clarified that the mention of "tyrannies" in Orsi's speech was indeed directed at the Cuban government, emphasizing the distinction between the Cuban people and the regime.